WAMU: The Politics Hour: Virginia’s newly elected U.S. Rep. James Walkinshaw
Fairfax voters this week overwhelmingly elected Democrat James Walkinshaw to succeed the late Gerry Connolly in Congress in Virginia’s 11th district. Walkinshaw, who was sworn in on Wednesday, takes over for his mentor during a particularly tumultuous time for Northern Virginia. Congressman Walkinshaw joined the show to discuss the 51,000 civilian federal workers who live in the district, a potential regional recession, and the possibility of a federal shutdown.
He also spoke about his first piece of legislation, which would require the president to get congressional approval before cutting or dismantling federal agencies. Walkinshaw said the executive branch is wielding too much power.
“I think we, in Congress, have to reassert our constitutional authorities, especially with respect to the operations of the federal government and the way dollars that are appropriated are spent.”
He said the White House also needs to implement the programs Congress funds. Plus, Walkinshaw weighed in on Virginia’s upcoming statewide elections.
The House Oversight Committee advanced a series of bills this week that threaten to further undermine D.C.’s autonomy, including legislation replacing the locally elected D.C. attorney general with a presidential appointee, allowing youth 14 years or older to be tried for certain offenses, and ending cashless bail in the District. Introduced amendments also called for revoking the city’s ban on right turns on red and prohibiting automatic traffic enforcement cameras.
Listen to the full interview here.